Rubus plant named ‘Golden Quilt’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Rubus plant named ‘Golden Quilt’, characterized by its compact, prostrate and cascading plant habit; freely basal branching habit; yellow green-colored young foliage that turns green with development; and burgundy-colored foliage during the fall.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION/CULTIVAR DESIGNATION

Rubus calycinoides cultivar Golden Quilt.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Rubusplant, botanically known as Rubus calycinoides and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Golden Quilt’.

The new Rubus is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of anunidentified selection of Rubus calycinoides, not patented. The newRubus was discovered by the Inventor in a controlled environment inAtlanta, Ga. in May, 1998.

Asexual reproduction of the new Rubus by vegetative stem cuttings takenin a controlled environment in Dahlonega, Ga. since June, 1998, hasshown that the unique features of this new Rubus are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Golden Quilt has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength, lightintensity, and water and nutritional status without, however, anyvariance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Golden Quilt’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Golden Quilt’ as a new and distinctcultivar:

1. Compact, prostrate and cascading plant habit.

2. Freely basal branching habit.

3. Yellow green-colored young foliage that turns green with development.

4. Burgundy-colored foliage during the fall.

Plants of the new Rubus can be compared to plants of the parent, theunidentified Rubus selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inAtlanta, Ga., plants of the new Rubus and the unidentified Rubusselection differ in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Rubus are slightly slower growing than plants ofthe unidentified Rubus selection.

2. Young leaves of plants of the new Rubus are yellow green in colorwhereas young leaves of plants of the unidentified Rubus selection aresolid green in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Rubus, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Rubus.

The photograph comprises a top perspective view of a six month-old plantof ‘Golden Quilt’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown in Atlanta, Ga., under conditionswhich approximate commercial practice in an unshaded outdoor nursery.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 50 to95° F. and night temperatures ranged from 30 to 80° F. Measurements andnumerical values represent averages of six month-old plants grown in15-cm containers. Measurements and color values were taken on plantsduring the spring and early summer.

Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unidentifiedselection of Rubus calycinoides, not patented.

Propagation:

Type.—By vegetative stem cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 7 to 10 days at 85° F. Winter:About 10 to 14 days at 65° F.

Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Summer: About 28 days at 85° F.Winter: About 45 days at 65° F.

Root description.—Fine, freely branching, and white in color.

Plant description:

Plant habit.—Compact, prostrate, cascading.

Growth habit.—Freely basal branching; about 10 to 12 basal shoots perplant.

Plant height.—About 9 cm.

Plant width.—About 35 cm.

Lateral branch description.—Length: About 18 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.Internode length: About 2.8 cm. Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture:Fine white pubescence; occasional random thorns on younger stems. Thornsabout 1 mm in length, about 1 mm in height, and close to 183A to 187A incolor. Color: Young stems: 144A to 144B. Mature stems: Close to 175A.

Foliage description.—Arrangement: Leaves simple; symmetrical; alternate.Length: From petiole attachment to apex: About 3.1 cm. From basal lobesto apex: About 4 cm. Width: About 4.2 cm. Shape: Roughly cordate withfive rounded lobes. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Crenate. Texture: Uppersurface: Waxy, smooth, sparsely pubescent. Lower surface: Denselypubescent. Aspect: Leaves face upright; concave. Venation pattern:Palmate. Color: Young foliage, upper surface: Initially mostly yellowgreen, between 7A and 154A; then venal areas, between 7A and 154A andinterveinal areas, closest to 141A. Young foliage, lower surface:Closest to 147C to 147D, venation coloration similar to lamina. Maturefoliage, upper surface: More green than 147A. Mature foliage, lowersurface: Closest to 147C to 147D. Fall coloration, upper surface: Closeto 185A. Fall coloration, lower surface: Closest to 147C to 147D.Venation, mature upper surface: Closest to 141A to 147A. Venation,mature lower surface: Closest to 145A.

Petioles.—Length: About 2.7 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture:Pubescent. Color: 144A to 144B.

Stipules.—Quantity/arrangement: Two at base of each petiole. Length:About 8 mm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Three-parted with acute apices.Texture: Upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Lower surface: Pubescent.Color: Upper surface: Close to 143A. Lower surface: Close to 144A.

Flower description: Flower development has not been observed on plantsof the new Rubus.

Disease resistance: Plants of the new Rubus have not been observed to beresistant to pathogens common to Rubus.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Rubus plant named‘Golden Quilt’, as illustrated and described.